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You may think anyone who even considers taste-testing pet food is desperate, a bit wacky or both. But you'd be wrong. The job is actually typically a highly-skilled one, and more like a combination of researcher and taster. Generally someone with a doctoral degree, a pet food taster's main job is testing, not tasting -- evaluating a given pet food's nutritional value, writing reports and determining ways to enhance new pet foods currently being developed [source: Inside Jobs]. Still, at some point they have to get down to business: sampling it.

Before digging into a bowlful of pet food, the taster first critically appraises its smell. While many animals wolf down their food, appearing to pay no mind to smell or taste, its smell is actually one reason why they like it. Additionally, pet owners are picky about a given pet food's odor. Who wants their house to reek of fish or liver? After evaluating the smell, it's time for the pet food taster to nibble that kibble. As with all other food tasting, testers evaluate its flavor, texture and consistency, and then -- thankfully -- spit it out.

Is it really necessary to taste pet food? Yep. Pets can be just as selective about their food as we are. If a pet food taster thinks a particular food tastes awful, it's likely the pets would as well. The good news? A professional pet food tester-taster generally earns at least $34,000 per year, and can even rake in more than $100,000 annually. Makes the job a bit more, um, savory [source: Inside Jobs].

Food taster FAQ

What is a professional taster?

What does a food taster do?

How do I become a food taster?

What education do you need to be a food taster?

How much do food tasters make?

Originally Published: Dec 15, 2014

Author's Note: How Food Tasters Work

I'd love it if a food scientist peered into my husband's mouth. I have a feeling he just may be a 'super taster' -- someone with two or three times the normal number of taste buds. He can discern nuances like oak and vanilla when wine-tasting, and can pick out coconut and lemon in any food, even if it contains just a hint. I thought I had defective taste buds before working on this article. Now I know he likely just has loads more than I do.

Related Articles

Sources

Allen, Peter. "Paranoid Putin has every meal tested for poison by qualified food tasters, claims former chef." The Daily Mail. July 24, 2012. (Nov. 23, 2014) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2178336/Vladimir-Putin-President-meal-tested-poison-qualified-food-tasters-claims-chef.html

Amira, Dan. "Walter Scheib, Former White House Chef for Clinton and Bush, Defends Presidential Food Tasters." Daily Intelligencer. March 19, 2013. (Nov. 23, 2014) http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/03/obama-food-taster-walter-scheib-president.html

Ben & Jerry's. "Meet Our Flavor Gurus." (Nov. 25, 2014) http://www.benjerry.com/flavors/flavor-gurus

Dang, Mike. "What It's Like to Work as a Professional Frozen Food Taster." The Billfold. March 25, 2014. (Nov. 23, 2014) http://thebillfold.com/2014/03/what-its-like-to-work-as-a-professional-frozen-food-taster/

Donaldson-Evans, Catherine. "Professional Tasters Eat and Drink for a Living." Fox News. Jan. 13, 2004. (Nov. 23, 2014) http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/01/13/professional-tasters-eat-and-drink-for-living/

Howcast. "How to Be a Professional Food Taster." (Nov. 23, 2014) http://www.howcast.com/videos/432523-How-to-Be-a-Professional-Food-Taster

Inside Jobs. "Pet Food Tester." (Nov. 23, 2014) http://www.insidejobs.com/careers/pet-food-tester

Inside Jobs. "Professional Taster." (Nov. 23, 2014) http://www.insidejobs.com/careers/professional-taster

Luthern, Ashley. "Testing for Poison Still a Profession for Some." Smithsonian. June 26, 2009. (Nov. 23, 2014) http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/testing-for-poison-still-a-profession-for-some-61805292/?no-ist

Maurer, Daniel. "So You Want to Be a Professional Food Taster." Grub Street. Jan. 6, 2011. (Nov. 23, 2014) http://www.grubstreet.com/2011/01/so_you_want_to_be_a_profession.html

MMR Research. "Careers at MMR." (Nov. 25, 2014) http://www.mmr-research.com/careers

My Majors. Food Taster Career. (Nov. 23, 2014) http://www.mymajors.com/career/food-taster/

Nania, Rachel. "Role of a food taster outside the White House." WTOP. Sept. 22, 2014. (Nov. 23, 2014) http://www.wtop.com/41/3706519/Role-of-a-food-taster-outside-the-White-House-

Saelinger, Tracy. "The truth about being a taste tester: It's not always tasty." Today. Feb.19, 2013. (Nov. 23, 2014) http://www.today.com/food/truth-about-being-taste-tester-its-not-always-tasty-1C8427211

The Schwan Food Company. "Become a Taste Tester." (Nov. 24, 2014) http://www.schwanstastetesting.com/learnmore.htm

United States Department of Labor. "Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2013: 19-1012 Food Scientists and Technologists." (Nov. 24, 2014) http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes191012.htm

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You may think anyone who even considers taste-testing pet food is desperate, a bit wacky or both. But you'd be wrong. The job is actually typically a highly-skilled one, and more like a combination of researcher and taster.

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I chose the job of a dog food taster because I am interested in the quality standards of pet food I believe that direct experience helps in understanding the flavor texture and overall quality of the food This allows me to contribute to improving products and ensuring they are safe and tasty for pets especially since many people consider their pets part of the family and care about providing the best for them.

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1. Nutritional value – The measure of how beneficial a food is for health, including its vitamins, minerals, and energy content.

2. Texture – The way a food feels in the mouth, such as smooth, crunchy, or chewy.

3. Odor – The smell of something, especially in relation to food and its freshness or appeal.

4. Palate – The sense of taste or the ability to distinguish different flavors in food.

# data[].attributes.body
The purpose of this passage is to explain the role of a pet food taster in ensuring food quality before it reaches animals. It highlights the importance of smell in attracting pets and satisfying pet owners. The taster evaluates the odor, then nibbles the food to assess its flavor, texture, and consistency, but does not swallow it.

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they” in “it’s likely the pets would as well.”
• Refers to: pets

it” in “Makes the job a bit more, um, savory.”
• Refers to: the job of a pet food taster

they” in “Still, at some point they have to get down to business: sampling it.”
• Refers to: pet food tasters

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You may think anyone who even considers taste-testing pet food is desperate, a bit wacky or both. But you'd be wrong. The job is actually typically a highly-skilled one, and more like a combination of researcher
and taster. Generally someone with a doctoral degree, a pet food taster's main job is testing, not tasting - evaluating a given pet food's nutritional value, writing reports and determining ways to enhance new pet foods currently being developed source: Inside Jobs]. Still, at some point they have to get down to business: sampling it.

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I used it to search for the target.

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To search for terms that are difficult for me

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You might assume that anyone willing to taste-test pet food is either desperate or eccentric, but that’s not the case. This profession requires a high level of expertise, combining research and tasting skills. Typically, pet food tasters hold a doctoral degree, and their primary role focuses on analyzing the nutritional value of pet food, writing reports, and improving new products in development. However, at some point, they do have to sample the food themselves.